London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Finsbury 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]

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13
SECTION B
General Provision of Health Services
Health Centre.
The Council continued to maintain the Health Centre for the
administration of the Public Health Services, and arrangements
continued in force for the use by the Regional Hospital Board and
by the London County Council of those portions of the building
which were occupied by services transferred to those bodies under
the National Health Service Act, 1946. The Council also continued
to act as an agent for the Regional Hospital Board in respect of
certain services controlled by them.
Numerous individual visitors and organised parties both from
this Country and Overseas visited the Health Centre during 1954.
All reasonable requests to visit the Health Centre were granted
as the exchange of views and information thus afforded is of mutual
benefit.
Laboratory.
The Laboratory serves the needs of the Public Health Department
in the control of Infectious Disease and the bacterial cleanliness of
foodstuffs, and for this purpose was particularly valuable, especially
in the diagnosis and control of Whooping Cough.
The work was carried out by the laboratory technician who was
transferred to the Regional Hospital Board, and has operated in close
association with the Central Public Health Laboratory service at
Colindale. It also undertakes work on behalf of the Regional
Hospital Board.

Work of the Public Health Department

Number positiveTotal Number Examined
1953195419531954
Throat and Nasal Swabs for Diphtheria16792
Sputums for Tubercle Bacilli9070450424
Nasal swabs for Whooping Cough12549352110
Blood Counts125110
Faeces and Rectal swabs for Dysentery961912,2752,959
Food Samples for Salmonella, etc.10
Totals3173103,3693,705